St. Augustine observed long ago that “whatever appears in the divine Word that can be referred neither to virtuous conduct nor to the truth of faith must be taken to be figurative.” I think the key word in his sentence that we have to come to terms with is the word “figurative.” The “divine Word”…
Japanese Cherry Blossoms: Spring’s Glorious Fleeting Celebration
Bright pink cherry blossoms against a brilliant blue sky is a sight unlike any other in the world. “Sakura” is the cherry blossom’s name in Japan. They flutter slowly to the ground as crowds mill about, taking in springtime’s beauty. Across the country, the atmosphere shifts. Buds bloom. Winter draws to an end. Just as…
Japan’s Second Buddhist Temple: Horyuji
From 594 to 622, Prince Shotoku ruled Japan. He certainly lived up to his name, for “sho” means sacred and “toku” means virtue. During his reign, he promoted Buddhism in Japan, so much so that he is popularly known as the founder of Japanese Buddhism. After his death, many even called him “Japan’s Shakyamuni.” A historical figure…
NTD International Piano Competition: A Lifeline After the Chaos
March 19, 2021
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artArts & CulturebaroqueClassicalclassical musicdivine inspirationNTD International Piano CompetitionPerforming ArtspianoromanticTraditional Culture
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The jurists of the New Tang Dynasty International Piano Competition are classical musicians as well. They are pianists and teachers, and when the pandemic last year brought the world to a halt, they were keenly aware of how classical musicians were affected worldwide. “Under this abnormal situation, the world has been chaotic. There has been…
Coming Home to Ireland’s Lost Harp Tradition
One of the most enduring of sounds, synonymous with the Emerald Isle, is that of the dulcet Irish harp. But the Irish harp that many of us are familiar with is a relatively modern instrument. Prior to the late 19th century, Ireland had a rich tradition of making and playing a different kind of harp,…
US Returns 280 Pre-Hispanic Archaeological Pieces to Mexico
March 11, 2021
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AmericasarchaelogicalArts & CultureHispanicMexicoNational Institute of Anthropology and HistoryTraditional CultureUSUS NewsWorld
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MEXICO CITY—Mexico has received 280 pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces that were in the United States, amid efforts by authorities to recover part of the country’s cultural heritage, the Mexican government said. The pieces are at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Mexico City where they will be studied and cataloged, the government said…
Letting Our Lives Speak: Some Ways to Fight the Culture Wars
Traditionalists of whatever political stripe seem to have given up on winning the culture wars waged over the last five decades or so. The past year in particular has brought setbacks and defeats: the removal or desecration of statues of American heroes, schools erasing the names of some of these same heroes, classics removed from…
Yard Sale Shopper Pays $35 for China Bowl That Turns Out to Be Artifact Worth up to $500,000
March 6, 2021
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artifactArts & Culturechinese artFine Arts & CraftsmanshipInspiredLife & TraditionSotheby'sTraditional Cultureyard sale
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Talk about your yard sale finds. A small porcelain bowl bought for $35 at a Connecticut yard sale turned out to be a rare 15th century Chinese artifact worth between $300,000 and $500,000 that is about to go up for auction at Sotheby’s. The white bowl adorned with cobalt blue paintings of flowers and other…
Truth and Her Twin, Part 2: Mendacium Writ Large
We looked in Part 1 at the mythological origins of Truth (Veritas) and Lies (Mendacium). We established that they were like twins: sometimes very difficult to distinguish between one and the other. And we made the point, too, that Mendacium, because she was footless, was immobile and also unbalanced. If we think through what this…
Chinese Regime Puts Out New Policy to Restore Traditional Culture, But Receives Backlash
February 18, 2021
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ChinaChina SocietyChinese RegimeConfucianismConfuciusCultural RevolutionmaoShen YunState CouncilTraditional Culture
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Major Chinese media outlets reported on Feb. 14 that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rolled out a new policy to revive traditional Chinese culture by 2025. However, the policy was criticized by media and China commentators who accuse the regime of using traditional culture as a facade for its own political gain, while destroying its…
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